Summer Holiday Booking Checklist

Checklist for booking your summer holiday with confidence

Many families are keen to get away on a fun-filled overseas trip to make up for the holidays they’ve missed during the pandemic. ABTA – The Travel Association has prepared a handy checklist to help you get ready for your next trip abroad.

Check that your travel company is an

ABTA Member ABTA Members will be able to offer guidance and the most up-to-date information so you can travel with confidence. ABTA Members have to follow a code of conduct which stands for high quality, reliable travel experiences. You can use the search tool on ABTA’s website to look for a local Member.

Booking a package holiday provides the best form of protection for your travel plans, as your holiday will be protected under the Package Travel Regulations. On top of the existing protections that come with booking a package holiday, many ABTA Members are also offering additional benefits or flexible cancellation and rebooking policies if needed. Many are also offering special family discounts, and it’s important to book early. There is massive pent-up demand for holidays, so by booking ahead of others you’ll be able to take advantage of the best deals such as free child places or room upgrades and secure the accommodation and resort of your choice.

Check your destination’s requirements

Visit the Foreign Office website (gov.uk/ foreign-travel-advice) to find the latest advice for the country you’re visiting. This includes entry requirements related to Coronavirus such as if you need to present proof of vaccination and/or a negative test result. Note that children may have differing destination entry requirements to adults. The Foreign Office website will also include other

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entry requirements like applying for a visa, and further advice on health such as recommended travel vaccinations. You can sign up to receive country specific email alerts to get important updates.

You can find out how to prove your COVID-19 vaccination or recovery status when travelling abroad by visiting Gov.uk. Give yourself plenty of time to get the documentation in order, and make sure you check what format your destination will accept, either digital or paper or both. You may find it helpful to have paper version of your documents in case your phone/device has a problem/runs out of battery and they can also make it easier when you are travelling as a family. Be sure to also check any COVID rules such as wearing a face covering or practicing social distancing, which may be required on your journey and at times during your holiday.

Check your passport

Check your passport and of everyone who’s traveling with you to see if it’s nearing its expiry date and allow plenty of time to renew it if needed – this can take up to 10 weeks. Many countries require you to have at least six months left on your passport from your date of departure. If you’re travelling to the EU, you will need to have at least three months left on your passport and your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years. Make sure you know what applies for the country you’re visiting.

Check that you have appropriate travel insurance for the whole family Make sure you take out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. Many insurance policies, including ABTA Travel Sure, include different types of cover for COVID-19, such as medical expenses while on holiday or cancellation if you’re unable to travel, so read the policy details carefully to ensure it covers your specific needs.

If you’re travelling to Europe, check if your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is still in date (cards are valid for five years when issued) and if not, apply for the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Both cards entitle you to state-priced emergency healthcare and some insurers won’t cover all your medical costs if you don’t have an EHIC or GHIC.

Check the rules for travelling to Europe now that the UK has left the EU There are some changes to travel to the Europe now that the UK has left the EU, including passport validity, the documents needed for taking your pet and mobile data roaming. Full details can be found at abta.com/brexit.

Check if there are entry requirements for your return to the UK Visit ABTA’s page on travel requirements to check before travelling abroad for more details, on abta.com/govrequirementsfortravel.